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The Catskill Mountains in New York provide rock climbers with numerous opportunities to enjoy the sport or rappelling. The Shawangunk Mountains, referred to as the Gunks, are within two hours of New York City, giving you a chance to practice your climbing skills with a day trip to the Catskills. The Shawangunk Mountains include hundreds of climbing routes on cliffs that reach more than 2,000 feet in height.

State Park

Minnewaska State Park Preserve (nysparks.com) provides public access to technical rock climbing routes in the midst of the Shawangunk Mountains. The park features numerous waterfalls, several lakes, hardwood forests, and cliffs and ledges perfect for climbing and rappelling. To rappel in the park, you must purchase a daily or seasonal rock climbing pass from the state park kiosk or the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (nysparks.com). As you enjoy rappelling and climbing in the park, watch for the peregrine falcons that make the park their home.

Preserve

The Mohonk Preserve protects almost 7,000 acres of the Shawangunk Mountains while giving you public access to climbing, hiking and rappelling. The East Trapps Connector Trail that leaves from the visitor center takes you up a steep set of stone steps to climbing cliffs that include 1,000 routes along five linear miles of cliffs. To climb and rappel in the preserve, you must buy a day pass or complete a membership form and submit the required fee. Climbers may utilize one of the 20 low-impact campsites available near the Trapps Bridge for overnight stays.

Private

More than 300 rock climbing routes along the face and stone tower of the Shawangunk Ridge make the privately owned Mohonk Mountain House (mohonk.com) a desirable location for climbing and rappelling. The lodge allows only overnight, meal or spa guests or those escorted with an authorized guide to climb on the property. Alpine Endeavors (alpineendeavors.com) is authorized to take climbers to the location from April through November for full- or half-day sessions. The guides provide all technical climbing equipment. You need to bring a day pack to carry your equipment, snacks and drinking water in non-glass containers, and plan to wear appropriate climbing clothing and comfortable shoes for hiking to the climbing routes.

Guided Trips

If you prefer to rappel with an experienced guide, Mountain Skills Climbing Guides (mountainskills.biz) provides trips to various areas in the Catskills where you practice rappelling down rock faces and over waterfalls. The outings work best if you have some rappelling or climbing experience. The company takes you to Mohonk Preserve or Minnewaska State Park Preserve.

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About the Author

Nancy Wagner is a marketing strategist and speaker who started writing in 1998. She writes business plans for startups and established companies and teaches marketing and promotional tactics at local workshops. Wagner's business and marketing articles have appeared in "Home Business Journal," "Nation’s Business," "Emerging Business" and "The Mortgage Press," among others. She holds a B.S. from Eastern Illinois University.

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Wagner, Nancy. "Places to Rappel in the Catskills" accessed March 19, 2018. http://traveltips.usatoday.com/places-rappel-catskills-100843.html

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Images related to Abseiling

The view from the Millbrook Ridge Trail in the Mohonk Preserve of southeastern New York, looking north toward The Trapps and Route 44/55.

Shawangunk Ridge Visible From Skytop Cliff Tower Near Mohonk Mountain House. The Closer Cliff Is Called The Trapps, The Second (Hardly Visible) Is Near Trapps Cliff And In The Back One Can See Millbrook Mountain. Hudson Valley Visible To The Left.